Usmanee eager to renew acquaintances

By Dave Spencer

It will be a new year but a familiar foe for super-featherweight Arash Usmanee (20-0 10KO) as he battles fellow undefeated fighter Rances Barthelmy (17-0 11KO) to kick off a new season of ESPN Friday Night Fights January 4, 2013 in Miami Florida. “Before the (2008) Olympics I was in Miami and I was training with him,” Usmanee revealed to FightNews in an exclusive interview. “I was actually going to turn pro in Miami and lived there for a year. We had the same trainer, we sparred a little bit, but four or five years ago Arash Usmanee then and Arash Usmanee now is definitely day and night.”

The Montreal based fighter isn’t entirely sure what his opponent may remember from sparring sessions and their time together, but realizes things change over time. “This is Arash Usmanee now and we’re preparing for Rances Barthelemy now, not the past.” But if his opponent wants to reminisce fondly, Usmanee is perfectly okay with it. “I hope he thinks he won and he comes with that same mentality, if he does, Arash will kick his ass,” said the thirty year-old of their time spent together in the ring. Click here to continue reading